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Berlinale’s Co-Pro Series title “Tipping Point” heads to the end of the world – Svalbard – to tell a story of a young activist at war with her oil exec father, until he is murdered.

Chasing a piece of stolen software which can be used either to destroy the world or improve it, just like the atomic bomb, she is investigating his death.

A ReelMedia (Finland) and Maipo Film (Norway) production, it’s set to start shooting in 2024.

“In Svalbard, there are scientists, spies, military attaches, environmentalists, miners. Polar bears and even a statue of Lenin, because no one bothered to take it down. You can’t make it up,” laughs head writer Brendan Foley, promising the location will keep the tale “contained.”

“When talking about the environment, TV has a problem. Especially when it tries to compete with Hollywood, where it’s all about CGI earthquakes and tidal waves. We...

Exclusive: The Audiovisual Producers Finland (Apfi) today announced the slate of new series its members are bringing to Berlin (scroll down for the full list) alongside a new industry event titled Focus on Finland to be held during the festival.

Focus on Finland will be an official part of the Berlinale Series Market schedule and will feature an industry panel titled ‘Why So Series?’ which will focus on Nordic scripted comedy and drama series.

The panel will take place at CinemaxX Theatre on Potsdamer Platz on February 20 and will feature writer Brendan Foley (The Man Who Died), producer Jackie Larkin (Strike), commissioner Arttu Nurmi (Modern Men), and distribution executive Jean-Michel Ciszewski (Bnei Aruba). The panel will be moderated by Marike Muselaers, Chief Content & Partnerships Officer, Lumiere Group.

“This year we’re focusing on expanding the industry and audience perceptions of what makes Nordic Noir,” said Laura Kuulasmaa, Executive Director of Apfi.

Finland unveiled six upcoming shows at Mipcom, with thrillers continuing to be relevant but Nordic Noir taking a back seat.

The showcase, organized by Audiovisual Producers Finland – Apfi partnering up with Yle, Finnish Film Foundation, Elisa Viihde and Film in Finland, spotlighted a thriller about a data leak, “cosy” crime series and even animation inspired by unboxing videos.

Aurora Studios is developing “Sunset Grove” with Elisa Viihde, described as a “feel-good crime story.” The shoot will start in September next year.

Through eight episodes, made in co-production with Fire Monkey, it will follow three elderly ladies from different backgrounds as they settle in a retirement home “where growing old is the least of your problems.”

Soon, they will have to turn into “Sherlocks in support tights,” said producer Severi Koivusalo, and team up to solve a crime.

“I am in my thirties and I don’t usually fantasize about retirement homes.

BritBox Acquires ‘Cold Courage’

BritBox UK has acquired Viaplay and Lionsgate’s John Simm-fronted political drama Cold Courage. The BBC and ITV-owned streamer will premiere the eight-part series on September 3, telling the story of how two Finnish women get drawn into a clandestine group dedicated to righting the wrongs of the powerful, influential and corrupt. Based on the award-winning and best-selling books by Pekka Hiltunen, Cold Courage was written by BAFTA-nominated David Joss Buckley (Hinterland) and Brendan Foley (The Riddle). The series is produced by Markku Flink and Pauli Pentti, and directed by Agenta Fagerstrom-Olsson and Kadir Ferati Balci. Fredrik Ljungberg, Jon Petersson, Kjartan Por Pordarson, Cormac Fox, Tom Hameeuw, Peter De Maegd and Marc B. Lorber are executive Pproducers.

Banijay Recruits Owain Walbyoff As Commercial Chief

Banijay has hired former Endemol Shine Group executive Owain Walbyoff to the newly-created role of chief commercial officer. Walbyoff will be...

Exclusive: Here’s an intriguing TV project coming together across international boundaries. John David Coles, the U.S. director and exec producer on two series of House Of Cards, is working with Brit scribe Tom Williams (Kajaki) and UK producers Clipper Media on Emerald Eye, a noir thriller series set during the Bolshevik Revolution.

The team have now attached leading Finnish commercial broadcaster MTV3 and Finnish co-producers Markku Flink and Pauli Pent at their banner Luminoir (Viaplay and Lionsgate’s Cold Courage) to the English-language project. This is the first time that MTV has developed a drama series in English.

Cole’s Talking Wall Pictures will produce alongside Clipper. The latter, founded by Michael Nakan and Jake Alexander, is a London-based company focused on international projects that has strong relationships in China. Clipper is working on further English-language projects in Germany and Sweden, and is also producing feminist horror anthology...

John Simm plays a rabble-rousing populist politician in “Cold Courage,” and Lionsgate has stepped up and taken international rights to the series.

Based on the series of novels by Pekka Hiltunen, the drama is billed as the biggest yet out of Finland and will bow on the Viaplay streaming service in Scandinavia. With a cast from all over Europe and a shoot spanning Belgium, Finland, Ireland, and the U.K., “Cold Courage” is international in scope and ambition.

That was part of the appeal for Simm, a familiar face on British TV, playing The Master in “Doctor Who” and starring in a host of other shows for British networks. “There was a point I was on BBC and ITV at the same time and that was a bit much,” he told Variety. “I thought it would be nice to step away from that for a little bit and do something I haven’t done,...

Junebug producer Mike Ryan and Phyllis Laing of Buffalo Gal Pictures among expert advisors.

Training and networking programme Trans Atlantic Partners (Tap) has unveiled the 2017 schedule of training modules connecting international producers with a special emphasis on co-productions.

Tap is holding training modules in Berlin from June 21-24 and Halifax, Canada, from September 12-17, when participants will also attend as delegates the Atlantic Film Festival’s Strategic Partners co-production market.

The programme provides networking and expert insight for film and TV producers from the Us, Canada and international markets.

This year’s experts include Mike Ryan of Greyshack Films (Junebug), Phyllis Laing of Buffalo Gal Pictures (Aloft), Canada Media Fund director of programme management Nathalie Clermont, German attorney Kai May, and Jeff Boone, manager of global scripted development at eOne Television USA.

Participating Us producers:

Allison Carter, Savage Rose; Reena Dutt, Painted Tree Productions & Off-Chance Productions; Kiara C Jones, Cultivated Films; Carolyn Mao; and Trevite Willis, [link...

Junebug producer Mike Ryan and Phyllis Laing of Buffalo Gal Pictures among expert advisors.

Training and networking programme Trans Atlantic Partners (Tap) has unveiled the 2017 schedule of training modules connecting international producers with a special emphasis on co-productions.

Tap is holding training modules in Berlin from June 21-24 and Halifax, Canada, from September 12-17, when participants will also attend as delegates the Atlantic Film Festival’s Strategic Partners co-production market.

The programme provides networking and expert insight for film and TV producers from the Us, Canada and international markets.

This year’s experts include Mike Ryan of Greyshack Films (Junebug), Phyllis Laing of Buffalo Gal Pictures (Aloft), Canada Media Fund director of programme management Nathalie Clermont, German attorney Kai May, and Jeff Boone, manager of global scripted development at eOne Television USA.

Participating Us producers:

Allison Carter, Savage Rose; Reena Dutt, Painted Tree Productions & Off-Chance Productions; Kiara C Jones, Cultivated Films; Carolyn Mao; and Trevite Willis, [link...

Magnus, The Model, Pyromaniac [pictured] and Devil’s Bride have all sold to multiple territories.

Scandinavian sales powerhouse TrustNordisk has closed deals on four titles at the Efm.

Magnus, Benjamin Ree’s documentary about chess player Magnus Carlsen featuring high profile grandmasters including Garry Kasparov, has sold to Germany (Nfp), Hong Kong (Edko films Ltd), former Yugoslavia (Discovery Film) and Benelux (September Film Rights).

The film is produced by Sigurd M. Karoliussen for Moskus Film in co-production with Vgtv, Nordisk Film Production and Main Island Production.

The Model, directed by Mads Matthiesen, has sold to Latin America (California Fil ms), China (Hgc Entertainment), Russia Cis (Voxell Media), Hungary (Vertigo Media), Turkey (Ozen Film), Estonia (Estin Film), Lithuania (Incognito Film) and Former Yugoslavia (2i Film d.o.o.).

Starring Ed Skrein (Deadpool) and debutant Maria Palm, the drama tells the story of an emerging model who develops a dangerous obsession with a male fashion photographer.

TrustNordisk previously...

Celluloid Dreams handles Valley of Shadows; Media Luna boards Little Wing; Indie Sales represents The Giant.

The old adage of ‘leaving them wanting more’ was certainly on display at the Works In Progress pitches at Goteborg’s Nordic Film Market this year (full line-up below).

The most-anticipated pitch of the session was Johannes Nyholm’s feature debut The Giant. The director showed several scenes from the film, but refrained from showing footage of the fantastical Giant as he said the VFX was still being worked on.

Also holding back were the producers of Cold Case Hammarskjold, the latest provocative documentary from Mads Brugger (of The Ambassador and The Red Chapel fame), about the death of Swedish diplomat and author Dag Hammarskjold.

Co-producer Andreas Rocksen said the filmmakers had a new theory about how Hammarskjold’s plane went down in 1961, but he said the theory won’t be revealed until the film is ready.

Several of the...

Nordic Film Market includes debut films by Force Majeure actress, the screenwriter of A Royal Affair and director of viral hit Las Palmas; CAA, UTA and ICM agents among attending industry.Scroll down for full list

More than 40 Nordic films and works in progress will be presented at the fruitful Nordic Film Market in Goteborg, which runs Feb 4-7 during to the Goteborg Film Festival (Jan 29 - Feb 8).

Often a productive staging post for impressive upcoming regional features and emerging talent, the 2016 lineup includes 17 finished features and 20 works in progress, plus eight titles presented as part of the Nordic Film Lab Discovery programme.

The works-in-progress presentations (see full list below) include ten debut films from the likes of A Royal Affair screenwriter Rasmus Heisterberg, viral hit Las Palmas director Johannes Nyholm, Force Majeure actress Fanni Metelius and Cannes Cinefondation alumni Juho Kuosmanen and Shahrbanoo Sadat.

Other works in progress will be presented from directors Mads Brugger ([link...